Wednesday, 5 December 2012

Address to the Sydney Rotary Club by Dr. Milan Balažic, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Australia and New Zealand - 4 December, 2012

I am honoured to be
invited to Rotary Club Sydney which is the largest and oldest such club in NSW
and has the reputation for attracting interesting speakers to its meetings. I
would also like to be one of them, so - let’s start with a little quiz in geography:
what is Slovenia?
Ex-czekoslovenia? Slovakia?
Slavonia? Ex-russian province? Wrong. The
answer is no.

Slovenia is a Central-European country half-way between Venice (Italy) and Vienna (last time, I checked, this city was still in Austria, not Australia, so we still are not geographic neighbours). It’s abeautiful country between the Alps and the Adriatic sea and it is actually very similar to the New Zealand’s South Island. Slovenia is also a home of the white Lippizzaner horses (you probably remember Shadowfax from the Lord of the Rings). Many of my Australian friends said to me after visiting Slovenia, that it is a hidden treasure of Europe.

Perhaps it is even
too hidden to notice its fascinating history. Slovenia
led an independent state already in 7th
century: at that time it was called Carinthia.
The elections of Carinthian duke were very similar to what we would call today
democratic elections. Believe it or not, but this is exactly a model that
Thomas Jefferson took as the basis for the concept of the US presidential
elections. Following this first democratic period, Slovenia fell under the Habsburg
Austrian Empire for a 1000 years, followed by Yugoslavia – first as kingdom of
Yugoslavia and later as Socialist
federal republic under Marshall Tito’s rule, which was effectively a soft
version of communist state with open borders to the West and more freedom in
comparison with the communist East.

The 80’s of the
previous century saw the rise ofstrong
democratic movements and in 1990 Slovenia got the first
democratically elected parliament and government. The communist regime in Belgrade
refused Slovenian proposal for democratic confederation in Yugoslavia. I
remember as yesterday that warm evening on 25 June 1991, when an entire nation
was on their feet – including me as a MP. The day started not with a pomp and a
marching band, but with a convention room full of politicians and press. We
unanimously declared and signed the Fundamental charter of independence,
breaking all ties with Belgrade and Yugoslavia’s
totalitarian communist regime.

With this
constitutional act we legally established a single supreme authority on the territory of Slovenia. Diplomats received
instructions to convince foreign powers to recognize Slovenia
as a sovereign nation and a declaration of independence was sent to Belgrade. Back from Belgrade came a
declaration of war. In ten days we won the war for Slovenia and surprised the world.
We defended our freedom, tore down a few hundred kilometers of the Iron Curtain
for ourselves and for Europe. We liberated our
part of Europe. We broke away in two key ways:
with Communist totalitarianism and with Yugoslavia with its dark Serbian
leader Milošević who wanted to turn it into a new type of state with one dominant
nation.

After 1991 and a short
war – that we won - we fully established an independent state - not in the name
of our nationalism but in the name of our commitment to democracy. Slovenia joined
the EU and the NATO alliance. It was a natural decision for the shared values we
fought for in the 80’s, similar politics, economy and security. EU is now a common
house: we are like a family with our agreements and dis-agreements, and with solidarity.
It’s like a marriage – you are together in good and bad. For Slovenian it is essential
is that Slovenia’s vote counts as much as a vote of a big EU players like
Germany, France, UK and that the Slovenian language is one of the official
languages of the EU.

In the last twenty years, from the day
when Slovenia voted in a
plebiscite to make its own way in the
world, Slovenia
has travelled a long and successful path. Today it’s among the thirty most
developed countries in the world. Slovenia has a highly educated
workforce, well-developed infrastructure, and is situated at major transport
crossroads. Our export orientated economy hasn’t escaped the European economic
crisis, but we are now already on the way to recovery as the government reform
package has been implemented.

Furthermore:
Slovenian companies have in recent time produced numerous successful and highly
innovative products. Ever heard of Elan skis, the ones used by skiing world
champions? Or Seaway sailing boats and Pipistrel ultra light aircraft? Or
perhaps the brilliantly designed Gorenje household appliances? And many other
small, but highly innovative companies. Their products are persistently
breaking into foreign markets and lend a boutique-type quality to Slovenia’s
economy. Our economy is geared towards services, and Slovenia can boast top-class
services in the field of information technology, pharmaceutical and car
manufacturing.

Slovenia is not a big
country: it has around 20.000 sq. km (Australia
is little bit bigger) and 2 million people (Sydney alone is more than twice of this size),
but it is boxing in the heavy league. Or if I use the words from (Australian)
Lonely Planet about my country: Slovenia
is a mice that roars. Last but not least: Slovenia
has a long history of the Olympic Games – including London - with series of medals.

Slovenia remains grateful
to Australia for joining the
group of countries who were the first to recognise Slovenia
as an independent state in 1991 and thus paved the way to Slovenia's
world-wide recognition, joining the European Union, NATO, WTO, OECD and many
other international organisations.

Australia is a great nation
of freedom and democracy and even the role-model of economic development. And
Australians and Slovenians are working closely together: we have excellent
political cooperation on the international stage, flourishing trade and common
values. In that name, in the name of security and freedom Australian soldier
side by side with Slovenian soldier fights in Afghanistan.

Trade between Slovenia and Australia is flourishing – raised
by 18% and 19% in the last two years. By the way, Slovenia is unique country in EU by
the fact that we have five big Harvey Norman stores there. However, there is
still a lot of scope for further development. Recently, two meetings between
the Australian and Slovenian Prime-Minister and the two Ministers of Foreign
Affairs (in Chicago and Brussels) substantially contributed towards
development in that direction. In this perspective I would also like to mention
recent successful visit of Australian Federal Minister for Health Tanya
Plibersek to Slovenia.

Dear ladies and
gentleman,

allow me a few
words on the future of Europe. As we all know,
XXth Century is over. There are many social models of this century that are out
of date: communism, fascism,conservative corporatism and old big social democratic
welfare state. But what about liberal democracy and capitalism? After the fall of the
Berlin Wall emerged the Fukuyama
dream: end of history and spreading of the liberal democracy with a little more
or less of Keynes or Friedman. This was simple narcissist phantasy from the
beginning of new millennium. ↓

EU and US are in
the middle of financial and economic crisis. For me this is a period of
transformation. But when we talk about the reasons for it the leftists are pointing
their finger at the liberal capitalism. A system with human face, they say, a system
of morning greed and afternoon charity. For me this is not the answer, it is a question.
The utopia of today is the idea that everything will go on like today without
serious reforms of structural malfunctions. Instead we need new inventions and
re-novations.

There is another reason
for that. Western liberal democracy and capitalism are facing a huge
competitor: so-called capitalism with Asian values, authorized by Lee Kwan Yu of
Singapore and adopted by
Deng Shiaoping of China.
Do you feel a paradox? Apparently only capitalism can save communism. And some people
argue that only communist China
can save liberal-democratic capitalism. At the end of the day, we are left with
a Chinese-style socio-economic system facing the end of historical marriage between
capitalism and democracy. This is capitalism that is definitely more efficient,
productive and dynamic. But it has on big flaw: there is no democracy. It is authoritarian
capitalism. So what will be the answer of the West?

I think, the right
answer is – REFORMS. I am an optimist. Perhaps there’s an impression that the EU
is in terrible crisis, especially by what is presented in the media. But the EU
is doing well, it is alive and kicking. There comes a time when we have to focus
and pose the right questions. The way how we formulate the questions is the
part of the problem. There are no quick answers and easy solutions, just because
we are approaching deep dead-locks – not in an apocalyptic manner, but in
rational way. Yes, “Houston,
we have a problem”. There is a range of burning issues including ecology and
climate change, economy and social divisions, segregation and political
extremism, biogenetics and ethics etc.

There are also
problems with democracy itself: it is losing its substance, there are democracy
issues with anti-immigrant, nationalist parties and movements. Nationalism is a
post-modern answer to globalization and not some kind of relic of the past. The
problem is that the changes are set in such a way that nothing will fundamentally
change. For this reason, the EU needs a new starting position for reforms. We
need to reframe our perspective in order to see, what is possible and what not.
For instance:

·flying to the Moon and Mars, living practically eternally,
biogenetics, cloning, growing and replacing new organs is possible;

·a modest change of liberal capitalism, to expand
democracy from political to civil-society and economic level (as a new
productive force) is impossible: we will loose our competitiveness, they say.

Institutionalized
democracy is not strong enough to deal with global economic or ecologic
problems. So I think we need to invent new democratic institutions of civil
society out of state mechanisms and market for the market. This should be
society of democratised democracy and liberal capitalism with Western values:
efficiency and high productivity on one hand and social rights, including
dignity of working people, on the other. The EU is in an excellent position to
achieve that.

Famous French
philosopher Michel Foucault once paradoxically said: the EU is the continuation
of Europe’s wars – but today, on the symbolic level.
In other words, the fight continues, but it is a fight with words and ideas. In
this framework, Europe is eternal idea,
reinvented in every new historical situation. But it is now, that for the first
time it has achieved an internal cohesion without a reason of having an
external enemy like figures of the Other once upon the time: Islam, Jews,
communists, immigrants etc. Within this logic we need to re-invent of Europe. We have to reinvent it by public use of reason,
if I recall the words of another famous philosopher – Immanuel Kant.

The EU is so much
more than bureaucracy in Brussels.
The EU is not just a blue flag with 12 stars, and an anthem (4 movement of the
Beethoven 9th symphony – Ode an die Freude). Europe
haws a common European identification. We share the ideas of equality,
democracy, human rights. We share the specific Judeo-Christian tradition, rich culture,
heritage of modernity, philosophy, good life, exceptional food and wine (especially
if you try excellent Slovenian wine). After the fall of the European
Constitution we need a new definition of Europe - a vision of Europe
that will mobilize people with less technocratic pragmatism and more efficient
politics.

The ongoing crisis
of EU appears as crisis of economy and finance. But that’s not the whole truth.
The crisis which started in 2008 was imported: as always, blame America for it.
But we should not behave as Hegel’s beautiful soul, saying that we have nothing
to do with this. We should also address the question of European identity and
lack of vision. In final analysis we need a decision to make the EU a global
player with soft and hard power; and to decide, what is the future of the Union
– the United States of Europe, a Federation, a Confederation, a Union of independent national states or just a Common
market. My answer would be: United States of Europe as modern and effective
federation.

We need a lot of
patience to make the EU come out of crisis. And we need to be prepared to new
and different possibilities. We, Europeans, need to open trans-European debate,
reformulate our problems, but also fell responsibility for the other parts of the world. Great and unique
legacy of Europe is worth fighting for - because
we learn from our mistakes. And because I am Slovenian I am also an
unconditional defender of the EU. True fidelity is only possible in the form of
resurrection: our common European return to “more Europe” looks like Hollywood comedies of re-marriage – the only true
marriage is the second marriage (to the same person).

Tuesday, 6 November 2012

During the 2012 Rotary NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards, the Rotary Club of Sydney recognised Samantha Barlow for her outstanding contribution to the community of NSW and the NSW Police Force.

PAUL HARRIS
FELLOW CITATION *

Samantha
Barlow

About 5.30am on the 13 May 2009
Sergeant Samantha Barlow began walking from Rushcutters Bay to Kings Cross
Police Station to commence work. During the course of her journey Sergeant
Barlow was savagely attacked by a drug addicted miscreant who repeatedly struck
her head, face and hands with a brick whilst she attempted to protect herself.
Sergeant Barlow was robbed of her personal property and left to die suffering
grave, life-threatening injuries. After the attack Sergeant Barlow crawled to a
nearby bus shelter where she remained until discovered semi-conscious, bleeding
profusely and unrecognisable to her colleagues. Sergeant Barlow’s injuries
placed her life at immediate risk and saw her surgically induced into a coma to
alleviate swelling of her brain. Sergeant Barlow suffered several fractures to
her skull rendering brain damage likely; a broken finger that she had placed in
harm’s way whilst defending herself from attack; lacerations to her forehead
and fractures within her face. She remained in a critical condition at St
Vincent’s Hospital until she regained consciousness almost one week later.
Beyond surgery, Sergeant Barlow lost her sense of taste and smell.

After approximately 22 months of
physical and psychological rehabilitation, Sergeant Barlow returned to the
profession of operational policing as a supervisor within the Surry Hills
Highway Patrol. In this position Sergeant Barlow contributed as a competent and
well respected supervisor of Highway Patrol police, with her return at all
times driven by overwhelming determination and against all medical odds.

Sergeant Barlow demonstrated
courage, bravery and resilience of the highest order to expose personal qualities
that reflect the ideals of policing. Unfortunately Sergeant Barlow was forced
to relinquish her operational capacity upon medical advice, effectively ending
her promising career on 16 August 2012.

Sergeant Barlow has become an
ambassador for all people suffering injuries, whether physical or
psychological. Her message is that whilst the road to recovery is not an easy
one, it is achievable with the right mix of courage and dedication.

Tonight the
Rotary Club of Sydney recognises Samantha for her outstanding contribution to
the community of NSW and the NSW Police Force. Samantha exemplifies the Rotary
Motto of ‘Service above Self’. It is this aspect of selflessness and community
service that is synonymous with Rotary values making Samantha Barlow a worthy
recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow for 2012.

* What is a Paul Harris Fellow?

Firstly, they are named after the Founder of Rotary, Paul
Harris. Individuals who have contributed
more than $1000 to the Annual Program Fund, the Polio Plus Fund or the
Humanitarian Grants Program of the Rotary Foundation are recognised as Paul
Harris Fellows. Additionally, individual Rotary clubs may from time to time
honour individuals as Paul Harris Fellows. They may be individuals who meet
high professional and personal standards set forth by Paul Harris. Paul Harris
recognition is not limited to Rotarians.
Paul Harris Fellow receives a special certificate and a gold pin.

Barry was born on Sydney’s north shore in 1950 and was
educated at Sydney Grammar School in the city. After school he qualified as a
chef and then studied for a Diploma in Catering and Hotel Management at the
Sydney Food School East Sydney. Whilst studying he was approached by Kellogg
International as part of their junior executive programme to assist in the
establishment of the fast food chain Hardees in Australia. Hardee’s was at that
time one of the largest fast food hamburger chains in the Southern United
States. He was sent to train at their headquarters in Rocky Mount South
Carolina. Upon returning to Australia he was part of a team that purchased 20
drive in restaurant sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. He was appointed
administrative assistant to the managing director of food services of Kellogg
International Australia. In this role, apart from site acquisition he was
involved in planning, site construction, restaurant marketing and initial
launch strategies. He worked closely with councils and advertising agencies
such as J Walter Thompson. The chain was
eventually sold to McDonalds as the beginning
of their Australia wide expansion
programme.

In 1973 he decided to go full time into real estate and was
fortunate to have the chance of join an old established real estate agency in
the city. He studied real estate and valuation at the University of Sydney and
became fully qualified in 1975. He built the city agency into a very large
valuation practise and general agency known as Barrouclough and Goldman. The
company specialised in the valuation and management and were on the valuation
panels of many leading lending institutions such as banks and building
societies and credit unions. He sold his interests in the company 1987 to Laing
and Simmons and then went full time into property consultancy. During this time
he assisted many large building and development companies in marketing numerous
residential and commercial projects. He also developed an interest in the
restoration of heritage buildings and has been involved in the adaptive reuse
of residential buildings. Over the years, he has also personally developed
numerous properties in the inner city for both residential and commercial use.

In 1999 he moved to Pyrmont in the inner city. He with his
wife Katherine purchased residential and commercial property in Pyrmont and
established The Portfolio Group. He built a strong following in the area and
the city fringe handling commercial and residential property.

In 2001 Barry was elected President of the Pyrmont Ultimo
Chamber of Commerce and built this organisation to a very strong lobby group
negotiating with the City of Sydney Council and The Sydney Harbour Foreshore
Authority who were both major stakeholders in the area. He also cofounded the
Business Association of the City of Sydney which combined all the business
chambers of commerce, partnerships and organisations in the city into a single
voice which became a powerful lobby group and advocate for business. He also
was involved in the establishment of Pyrmont Progress Incorporated which was
set up so the residents and business could work together to achieve common
goals.

In 2004 Barry along with his wife Katherine successfully
assisted Clover Moore running for Lord Mayor of Sydney. He provided office facilities and services
and his wife Katherine managed her
campaign.

Over all this time, the Portfolio Group has continued to
grow and operates a successful property management, sales and leasing practise
throughout the city fringe. They have recently added a facilities management
arm to the business.

Barry and Katherine Goldman have recently developed a
totally new innovative residential agency model which is called LEDA Real
Estate. This business was launched in June
2012 and is beginning to create a great deal of interest in property
circles throughout Sydney as it is a totally new approach to selling property.

In recent times,
Barry and many old supporters of Clover Moore became disillusioned in
the way the city was being run. In 2011 he along with several like-minded city
people established the Living Sydney Independent Team to run against her at the
2012 elections in September. Barry was appointed Chairman of Living Sydney
Limited.

Barry has a great passion for Sydney its people, its life,
heritage and culture. He was concerned
about the waste and financial mismanagement, the lack of safety and compliance,
the plight of businesses suffering from a deliberate lack of interest by the
Council to small business , the lack interest in tourism and promotion, the
gridlock of traffic and the transport problems created by Clover Moore and the
plight of the homeless and those in need of crisis care who are grossly
underfunded.

Living Sydney ran candidates in the recent City of Sydney
Council elections with the platform of a better deal for city small business
and more open and transparent council governance. As Chairman of Living Sydney
together with a strong support team Living Sydney was able to successfully win
a seat on council for Councillor Angela Vithoulkas who is well known in city
small business circles

Barry has recently been appointed a director of Jewish House
Crisis Care Centre to help develop strategies to aid the very many people in
Sydney in need of crisis care and counselling. This organisation helps people
from all cultures and religions that need help. This area of care is grossly
unfunded by all forms of government and there is an acute lack of accommodation
and facilities for these people.

Barry and his wife are great travellers and have spent a
great deal of time in recent years in France where one of their children has
been studying for his PHD.

Thursday, 11 October 2012

Former Timor-Leste President,
Dr Jose Ramos-Horta was in Sydney this week to speak at a
special Corporate Breakfast organised by Sydney Rotary Club in support of a Fund to improve the health and welfare of
people in his country.

Dr Ramos-Horta was joined
on the Speaker Panel by General Peter John Cosgrove, former Chief of the
Australian Defence Force and Professor Peter McMinn, Bosch Chair of Infectious
Diseases, Sydney University in the presence of The Governor of NSW, Her
Excellency Professor Marie Bashir.

During 2012-13, the Rotary
Club of Sydney will be supporting the University of Sydney’s Isin-Di’ak Fund
which has been set up with the overall objective of improving health outcomes
in Timor-Leste through the training and education of Timorese health
professionals in treating disease.

Professor Peter McMinn said
the first major project of the Fund will be to eliminate two parasitic diseases
from Timor-Leste - lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, and
intestinal worms, also known as hookworms.

“Lymphatic filariasis affects
up to 20% of the Timorese population and causes extensive swelling of limbs and
other parts of the body, is very debilitating, but can be effectively
treated. Intestinal worms affect up to
50% of children in Timor-Leste, causing anaemia and malnutrition, and are also
treatable.”

A five year program of annual
mass dosing with two anti-parasitic drugs should eliminate both diseases from
the country. The training provided to health professionals
during the five years will also ensure that these infections never recur.

Sydney Rotary Club President,
James Allen said the success of the program will make a substantial difference
to the well-being and quality of life for many Timorese people. He appealed for private and corporate
donations to meet the fundraising goal of $500,000.

Tuesday, 2 October 2012

You have the opportunity to join
David Gonski for lunch on 9th October when the Rotary Club of Sydney will
present him with the Club's prestigious Vocational Service Award for 2012.

David
Michael Gonski, BComm, LLB, AC, is an outstanding Australian public figure and
businessman. The Sydney Morning Herald has described him as "one of the
country's best-connected businessmen" and dubbed him "Mr
Networks" for being "arguably Sydney's most networked man".

David
Gonski was born in 1953 in Cape Town, South Africa. His family migrated to
Australia in 1961. He attended Sydney Grammar School and graduated with the
degrees of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (with the University
Medal) from the University of New South Wales. He practised as a solicitor with
the firm of Freehills from 1977 to 1986, becoming their youngest ever partner
at age 25, before leaving to co-found an investment bank. While at Freehills,
he taught Intellectual Property for the Faculty of Law at the University of New
South Wales.

The
world of business and finance derived great benefit from his high profile and
innovative leadership.Current positions
include chairman both of Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd and of Investec Bank (Australia)
Limited, Director Singapore Airlines Ltd and Consultant as well as Chair of the
Advisory Board of Transfield Holdings Pty Ltd.He has served on 40 boards and recently was appointed by the
Commonwealth Government as Chairman, Future Fund Board of Guardians.

David
Gonski's horizons extend into the cultural and educational spheres. Here too he has exerted a profound impact
through chairmanship and membership of Boards and Foundations devoted to
furthering the work of the Australia Council for the Arts, the Art Gallery of
NSW, the State Library of NSW, the Sydney Theatre Company and the National
Institute of Dramatic Art.

These
attainments were appropriately recognised when David Gonski was appointed an
Officer of the Order of Australia in 2002.

It
is fitting that the Rotary Club of Sydney should honour David Gonski with the
2012 Vocational Service Award, particularly because embedded in his life as a
family man and public figure are ideals central to the Rotary movement.

This is a unique
opportunity to hear this outstanding Australian speaker in the company
of some of Sydney's leading business people.

The luncheon will
be held from 12:30pm on Tuesday 9th October at the Castlereagh
Hotel, 169 Castlereagh Street, Sydney at a cost of $40,00.

You can take advantage of this advance notice and
prepay your booking by using this linkor
simply send me an email.

Best wishes.

Tony Benner,
Communications Director,

The Rotary Club of
Sydney

Tel. 0407 366 140.

Lunch with David Gonski AC

David
Gonski AC

David Michael Gonski,
BComm, LLB, AC, is an outstanding Australian public figure and
businessman. The Sydney Morning Herald has described him as "one of
the country's best-connected businessmen" and dubbed him "Mr
Networks" for being "arguably Sydney's most networked
man".

David Gonski was born in
1953 in Cape Town, South Africa. His family migrated to Australia in
1961. He attended Sydney Grammar School and graduated with the degrees of
Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (with the University Medal)
from the University of New South Wales. He practised as a solicitor with
the firm of Freehills from 1977 to 1986, becoming their youngest ever
partner at age 25, before leaving to co-found an investment bank. While
at Freehills, he taught Intellectual Property for the Faculty of Law at
the University of New South Wales.

The world of business and
finance derived great benefit from his high profile and innovative
leadership. Current positions include chairman both of Coca-Cola
Amatil Ltd and of Investec Bank (Australia) Limited, Director Singapore
Airlines Ltd and Consultant as well as Chair of the Advisory Board of
Transfield Holdings Pty Ltd. He has served on 40 boards and
recently was appointed by the Commonwealth Government as Chairman, Future
Fund Board of Guardians.

David
Gonski's horizons extend into the cultural and educational
spheres. Here too he has exerted a profound impact through
chairmanship and membership of Boards and Foundations devoted to
furthering the work of the Australia Council for the Arts, the Art
Gallery of NSW, the State Library of NSW, the Sydney Theatre Company and
the National Institute of Dramatic Art.

These attainments were
appropriately recognised when David Gonski was appointed an Officer of
the Order of Australia in 2002.

It is fitting that the
Rotary Club of Sydney should honour David Gonski with the 2012 Vocational
Service Award, particularly because embedded in his life as a family man
and public figure are ideals central to the Rotary movement.